STEELY DAN | 05.25 & 05.26 | PHILLY

Words by: Martin Halo :: Images by: Rod Snyder

Steely Dan :: 05.25.07 & 05.26.07 :: Tower Theater :: Upper Darby, PA

Steely Dan :: 05.25 :: Pennsylvania

With the towering buildings of downtown Philadelphia now a distant memory, the outskirts of the city reflect the vise of poverty. Men sit on stoops in front of their humid homes while the sun genuflects in the face of an impending evening cool. Curbside preachers spit religious verse as the city’s western edge unveils the cultural district of Upper Darby.

Glistening gallantly on her thrown of harmonious dominance stands the Tower Theater, an awaiting crowd shielding her doors from the passing motorists. Road cases bearing the name Steely Dan could be seen rolling down back alleyways towards the Tower’s stage door.

The jazz-rock icons, who released their last collaborative effort in 2003 (Everything Must Go), saddled up the tour buses again to embark on a world tour that will keep them on the road through September. Dubbed the “Heavy Rollers Tour,” Steely Dan descended upon Darby for two nights of ’70s benchmark classics, catalog gems and jazz inspired fusion.

Steely Dan :: 05.25 :: Pennsylvania

Donald Fagan (piano/vox) and Walter Becker (guitar) took the stage promptly at 9 p.m. with a supporting cast of Keith Carlock (drums), Jon Herington (guitar) and Freddie Washington (bass). With the Tower’s glowing artwork gazing down upon the laid back audience, a feeling of unmatched comfort descended as the ensemble explored their soft rock decadence.

Fagan sat behind his Fender Rhodes, his eyes concealed behind dark glasses. As if fighting against the magnetic pull of the microphone, his body gyrated as he delivered lyrical bursts. Becker commanded the majority of lead guitar work with an array of cleanly expelled phrases.

The absence of brawn and grit to the performance left the crowd glued to their seats but that doesn’t mean that the show didn’t dazzle. With a horn section and backup singers of ungodly temptation providing harmonies, the set had body with a broad tone that echoed off the Tower’s walls.

Steely Dan :: 05.25 :: Pennsylvania

Fagan addressed the faithful with his unmistakable rasp, “We are going to be digging deep back into the ’70s tonight.” They then launched into “Josie” off 1977’s Aja, later followed by the title track. Waitresses engulfed the audience with trays of alcoholic delights but what the heart craved was a silver platter from the Medellin Cartel. The performance personified FM radio’s golden era, and the demeanor of the audience reflected just that – mellow, still and attentively quiet.

With horns blaring at Becker’s back, Herington’s secondary guitar work showcased his thin, basic licks. Next up was the title track off 2000’s Two Against Nature. Additional selections included “Dirty Work” from their 1972 debut and “Hey Nineteen” from 1980’s Gaucho.

With tints of purple and blue dominating the euphoric sense of seeing Steely Dan in an atmosphere of complete relaxation, a heightened awareness of their onstage brilliance washed over the capacity crowd. The only thing missing from this performance was a rendition of “Ricky Don’t Loose That Number,” which for some reason holds an unshakeable spot in my morning shower setlist.

JamBase | Pennsylvania
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